Chapter 73: Jon Storms the Execution Ground
King's Landing, the Great Sept of Baelor, the square before the Great Sept
"I will not confess. You are the ones who killed the King. You are nothing but an incestuous bastard; you don't deserve to inherit the throne at all!"
"You..."
Although his daughter's life was in their hands, Eddard knew that today was a death trap for him.
Because of Jon's previous stories, Eddard was well aware that Sansa was an important pawn for them to control the North in the future. Therefore, even if he did not confess, House Lannister could not possibly kill Sansa.
"You dare defy your King? I am the eldest legitimate son of Robert Baratheon. I possess noble blood, the blood of the Roaring Lion of House Lannister and the Crowned Stag of House Baratheon..."
"You'll have to ask your oathbreaker mother about that! Hmph! Oathbreakers will eventually face the wrath of the gods. Selfish people will ultimately die by their own hands."
After suffering repeated betrayals, Eddard had a bit of a "nothing left to lose" attitude, and he no longer spoke with his usual courtesy.
"Guards! Take his head! Can't you see he is slandering the King?"
At this moment, Joffrey was like a tyrannical little lion, shouting loudly and waving his fists as if his rage had reached its peak.
In Joffrey's mind, he was the perfect convergence of two noble bloodlines, yet today, Eddard—this Northern lord in his eyes—dared to slander his reputation so.
So at this moment, Joffrey only wanted this disgusting fellow to die quickly, rather than letting him continue shouting here.
"No, don't, Father!"
Seeing that several members of the Kingsguard were ready to act, Sansa Stark completely broke down. She rushed toward the execution platform, crying out, but as she neared Sandor Clegane, known as "the Hound"...
This tall and scarred sworn shield seized the slender Sansa and stopped her. As Joffrey's sworn shield, Sandor Clegane knew very well how cruel and unpredictable his master could be.
If this noble lady of House Stark continued her clamor, Sandor Clegane could guarantee that there would likely be two heads rolling today.
"Stop!"
Just as the Kingsguard were about to move, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Barristan Selmy, known as "Barristan the Bold," suddenly blocked their path.
"Your Grace, Lord Eddard has not confessed to his crimes. I believe there must be an issue here. Please forgive his insolence. We should thoroughly investigate the true cause of the late King's death rather than declaring someone guilty without a proper trial like this!"
"Ser Barristan, Eddard Stark poisoned the King's wine. A servant of House Stark has personally confessed to this."
Since the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard was one of the most respected knights in the Seven Kingdoms and had held the white cloak for decades, the Kingsguard members who were ready to follow Joffrey's orders instinctively stopped in their tracks.
Seeing Barristan jump out to disrupt the proceedings, the Queen Regent, Cersei Lannister, who had maintained a cold expression, spoke up.
Although her brother Ser Jaime Lannister had been opposing this plan, Cersei always believed that only the dead could keep secrets.
To prevent this secret from one day being exposed, Cersei had to act in advance, poisoning her husband and then framing Eddard Stark for everything.
It was a bit of a pity; because Cersei had arranged everything herself, many things seemed rushed. Although Jaime was somewhat dissatisfied with her acting first and informing him later...
...Cersei understood that Jaime, the brother who always loved her deeply, would always help her and dote on her.
"But... the poisoner has already died in the dungeon. There is truly something wrong with this!"
"Enough, Ser Barristan! I haven't even held you responsible for failing to protect my father, and yet you jump out to help this traitor. Do you also intend to oppose me, your King?"
Seeing the scene spiral out of control again, Joffrey felt as if a fire was burning in his heart. With eyes bloodshot, he roared at Barristan.
"Honor resides in every man's heart. Only those who recognize honor cannot bear to see it defiled!"
"Kill him! That is the King's command! And you, Ser Barristan Selmy, in the name of the King, I order you to remove your white cloak! You are no longer a member of the Kingsguard; you are a traitor!"
Joffrey was now completely enraged. He pointed his hand at Eddard and Barristan, issuing orders to everyone.
The fat High Septon, who had been speaking eloquently just moments ago, had long since retreated to the side in fear. The royal quarrel left him speechless, and he now somewhat regretted coming here.
The front of the Great Sept of Baelor was now in total chaos. The dignitaries and nobles on the steps were shouting loudly, while the commoners in the square below were cursing and yelling.
Among these people, only a few actually cared about the truth; the rest were either deceived or completely indifferent.
"Is such a chaotic scene what you wanted to see, my dear Lord Petyr?"
While Petyr Baelish, known as "Littlefinger," watched the chaotic scene below with a smile, a soft and high-pitched voice reached his ears.
"Lord Varys! Don't you enjoy such scenes just as much? A peaceful environment has no meaning for people like us. You don't really want to sacrifice yourself for this realm, do you?"
Petyr Baelish did not answer Varys's question directly but countered with one of his own.
"It's easy enough to throw a realm into chaos, but if you want to bring it back to peace, the price you pay might be much higher!"
"Chaos is a ladder. Only by giving can one gain. I won't spend my whole life in mediocrity!"
Petyr Baelish spoke with total confidence. He was a very conceited man, and so far, he believed that many things were still within his grasp.
"This world is full of variables. You might..."
"Roar..."
Before Varys could finish his sentence, a terrifying roar erupted in the square before the Great Sept. With this roar, everyone's gaze shifted toward it.
"That... what is that?"
"A gi... giant is coming?"
"Why does it only have one eye? Wait... is there someone standing on its shoulder?"
...At this moment, on the street at the entrance to the square, a massive figure at least four meters tall appeared before everyone's eyes.
This terrifying creature had a single, enormous eye, and its body was covered in horrific, tumor-like protrusions. It was completely naked, looking like a giant, bloated human.
This Cyclops held a massive tree trunk in its hand, which seemed to be its weapon. But that wasn't what surprised the crowd the most.
Because while they were shocked by the terror of the Cyclops, those closer had already noticed the young man standing on its shoulder.
Jon was currently standing on the Cyclops's shoulder. He had summoned this big fellow using a Magic Stone. As a super tank from the game, this giant was an attention-grabber wherever it went.
Jon had considered what method he should use to rescue his so-called uncle, Eddard Stark. After much thought, this was the only way he could come up with.
Conventional methods would only draw in the Gold Cloaks and the guards of the Red Keep. Transforming into a dragon would not allow him to extract Eddard and the others smoothly. After weighing his options, the Cyclops was the only monster he could use.
Seeing the crowd scatter, Jon was very satisfied with his decision. As the Cyclops drew closer, the Gold Cloaks who had been maintaining order below the steps of the Great Sept of Baelor retreated in fear.
"Stand back! Who are you?"
Just then, a voice suddenly came from behind the Gold Cloaks. Moments later, Ser Jaime Lannister, clad in a white cloak and holding a longsword, appeared before Jon's eyes.
"I have had many names. In the North, my name was Jon Snow. But later, after receiving a revelation from the gods, I learned my true name. Are you sure you want me to say it?"
Jon stood on the Cyclops's shoulder, looking down at Ser Jaime Lannister from a height. This posture made Jaime, the proud Kingsguard knight, somewhat annoyed.
Jaime was already in a bad mood today. Because of the Eddard issue, he had argued with Cersei for the first time. Although this wasn't his first time breaking an oath...
...when facing Eddard Stark, the man who had once judged him in silence after he slew the Mad King, Jaime felt a strange sense of guilt.
Perhaps Jaime had once wanted to be someone like Eddard who valued honor, but through choice after choice, he had ultimately become what he was now.
"Who cares what you are?"
Drawing the longsword from his waist and pointing it at Jon from afar, Jaime charged toward him.
For a man who had once slain King Aerys II Targaryen in the throne room itself, the Cyclops beneath Jon's feet was merely an oversized beast in his eyes.
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